Tamil refugees flow continues to bother Australia

Despite efforts of Australian authorities to deter Sri Lankan refugees from taking ferries from Indian shores to Australia, such illegal migrants have been on the rise, braving death and danger in the high seas

China to provide further funding for transport sector

China has pledged to provide further funding to develop Sri Lanka’s transport sector that includes a number of expressways, road networks and railway lines, including a new Colombo-Jaffna expressway

Kelaniya PS chairman surrenders

Kelaniya Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Prasanna Ranaweera surrendered to court yesterday through a lawyer for an alleged assault on a businessman supporter of Minister Mervyn Silva last Thursday (23)

Video: MR meets Chinese President

President Mahinda Rajapaksa who is on a four-day state visit to China met Chinese President Xi Jinping for bilateral talks a short while ago, the Government Information Department announced ???

Video: China pledges more financial aid to Lanka

The China Exim Bank has pledged continuous support to Sri Lanka’s development work, particularly in areas involving road development, construction of highways and water supply projects ???

Court refused Singapore visit for Duminda

Colombo Magistrate court today refused permission for MP Duminda Silva to two weeks-visit to Singapore for medical observations.

Big heist at Ekala

An unidentified armed group arrived in a van robbed Rs. 7 mn belonging to a private firm at the Ekala junction, Ja-ela, a short while ago, the police said

Video: Govt. planning to privatise SOR-UNP

The Government is making arrangements to privatise the Sapugaskanda Oil Refinery (SOR), despite its assurance not do so while in the meantime is going ahead with its plans to construct a new oil refinery at Hambantota, the United National Party (UNP) said today

SL Tamil duo mastermind in fake ATM card racket

The Tamil Nadu Q-branch police arrested two more persons - Habib Rahman of Saibaba Colony in Coimbatore and Muthukumar, Sellur, in Madurai in connection with the ATM card fraud case

Video: Pakistani journalist nabbed with Heroin

A Pakistan journalist was arrested last night for possessing one kilogram of heroin valued at rupees five million by the Excise Department officials at Orugadawatta

Met. Dept. says 'sorry'

Meteorology Department today tendered its public apology for naming the recent cyclone which ripped through Indian Ocean as Mahasen, one of the greatest Kings of Sri Lanka following a public disapproval of naming the tropical storm after the King

Grade 1 enrolment to be curtailed

The Education Ministry is planning to reduce Grade 1 enrolment in schools from the present capacity of 45 students to 35 per classroom by 2016, a Minister said yesterday

Murder accused given bridging visa

A Sri Lankan man accused of murdering his girlfriend before fleeing to Australia on an asylum boat was released into the community on a bridging visa in 2012

Mervyn to get powers to discipline public servants?

A new Parliamentary Act will be soon introduced giving unrestricted power to the Public Relations and Public Affairs Ministry to entertain and investigate complaints against public officials and recommend redress or take legal action against those who ignore ministry directions, a senior official said

Chinese arrested with protected animals

Wildlife rangers arrested a Chinese at Mirijjawila in Hambantota for allegedly possessing a tortoise and a pangolin yesterday, the Wildlife Department said

SL concerned over lack of financial independence of OHCHR

The Sri Lankan government today said that it remains deeply concerned that the lack of financial independence of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) also leads to disproportionate attention being paid to country-specific action in the Council.

Navi Pillay to visit SL in August

High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay will undertake a visit to Sri Lanka from 25 to 31 August 2013, in response to an invitation formally extended to her by the Sri Lankan government in April 2011, the government said.

Ties with Beijing were not an 'exclusive one'-SL

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa arrived in Beijing on Monday on a 4-day state visit, his sixth, with Colombo saying that its ties with Beijing were not an "exclusive one" and would not harm interests of others

Mother jumps into river with 2 children

A mother jumped into a river with her two children aged three and seven in Valachchenai this morning following a domestic dispute, police said

Kandy A/C train postponed

The Colombo-Kandy luxury train service, which was expected to begin operations today, was postponed until further notice, the Transport Ministry said today.

Three bodyguards assaulted

Three security personnel assigned to Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Kilinochchi Organiser has been reportedly assaulted by an unidentified group at Vairavapuliyankulama in Vavuniya last night. 

Fmr. umpire reveals 'fixing' approach for a Pakistan-Lanka match

Former umpire John Holder alleged Sunday he was offered 10,000 pounds (USD 15,139) to help sway the course of a one-day international in the United Arab Emirates. Holder, who stood in 11 Tests, said the approach related to a match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan in Sharjah.

Maoist attack kills at least 24 in India

At least 24 people were killed and 33 were injured in Saturday's audacious Maoist attack on a political motorcade in India's Chhattisgarh state, the province's home secretary told CNN Sunday.

Politics is ‘business’ in SL: Minister

Transport Minister Kumara Welgama said engaging in politics in Sri Lanka was a business and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and the United National Party were the main competitors.

Sampanthan says Gotabaya is not govt.

“Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa has said police and land powers would not be given to the Northern Province. I am not ready to talk to him because he is not the government,” said ITAK leader R. Sampanthan at the Trincomalee District General Meeting of the ITAK yesterday.

Lanka can't toe India line on 13th Amendment: Gotabaya

The influential Sri Lankan Defence Secretary, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, has said Sri Lanka should jettison the system of devolution contained in the India-inspired 13th Amendment of the country’s constitution, irrespective of India’s reaction.

Political henchmen exploit BIA VIP Lounge: UNP

The VIP lounge of the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) was exploited for the comfort of politically connected persons travelling  abroad, United National Party (UNP) MP Akila Viraj Kariyawasam charged in Parliament last week.

It’s self-sacrifice

The Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) today insisted that the self-immolation committed by the ex-JHU monk, Ven. Bowatte Indarathana Thera was an act of self-sacrifice and not a case of suicide.

BBS wants Gota to man Buddha Sasana Ministry

The Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) today said the Buddha Sasana Ministry should be brought under the purview of Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa to protect Buddhism.

Court orders Kelaniya PS Chairman’s arrest

Mahara Magistrate Darshika Wimalasiri ordered the Kiribathgoda police to arrest the Chairman of the Kelaniya Pradeshiya Sabha Prasanna Ranaweera and produce him in court